In September the Asheville Jung Center has ambitious plans to host a conference titled “Symbols and Individuation in Global Politics”. Do Jungians and the field of Analytical Psychology have something unique to offer in the arena of politics, political science, and political discourse? Of course, Jungians are entitled, indeed obligated, to participate in the political process. But is there a Jungian perspective on these matters?
The Wilderness of Childhood may be the source of our creativity. The adventure and danger a child experiences when adults are not around may be vital for the proper unfolding of an adventurous, creative spirit. Our care and attention to children these days may have an unintended effect of stifling the adventure of childhood that occurs in the Wilderness.
In yesterday’s Red Book conference Dr. Stein suggested that in Jung’s later years Jung stated that he did not “believe” but he “knew”. This may reflect Jung’s integration of the figure of Philemon a sort of prophet with whom he had engaged in fertile relationship for years. Dr. Stein connected his ideas about Jung’s mature faith to the modern theological trend known collectively as “Process Theology”. Sadly, Jung will not allow himself to recover the childlike realms of faith by offering a complete surrender. It is tempting to wonder what might have occurred if Jung had descended one additional millimeter. It is in that final millimeter that Jung reveals a profound struggle.
Recent discussion about the movie AVATAR conducted in an online forum led me to the following thoughts. What other films, pieces of literature, poetry, paintings or sculpture, or music that others have encountered that touched a plucked a chord in you while also making a “collective” chord vibrate?
The Red Book was one man’s (Jung’s) effort to plum his own depths. This is an invitation. If you feel so moved, share an excerpt from your personal “Red Book”.
Einstein’s relativity has something to offer us in our work as therapists. We do well to remember that our frame of reference shapes what we observe. When we adhere too dogmatically to a theory, any theory, we may limit ourselves. Share your thoughts about how you maintain a stance with clients while remaining open to the numinous experience that occurs in therapy.
Arizona passed a new law intended to deal forcefully with illegal immigrants. the law makes it a state crime to not have an alien registration document and requires police to question persons they suspect of being in this country illegally. Comparisons to Nazi Germany are partly hyperbole and partly true. What are the psychological roots of this controversial law? What light does Analytical Psychology shed upon exclusion and embrace of the other?
Freud proposed in an essay that psychoanalytic technique had evolved from earlier efforts using hypnosis. This essay can be adapted to provide some guidance about working with the Shadow. How is Shadow addressed in Jungian analysis? What serves the function of moving a person from projecting to recovering their projections and finally arriving at integration?
Volcanic eruption may be Gaia’s reminder that we are not able to destroy the earth, just ourselves. Just suppose Mother Earth let off a massive amount of dust into air in order to cool her skin.
The mythic 3-headed creature as a symbol of righteous rage, envy, and pragmatism is explored after the recent SEC fraud charges against Goldman Sachs.
